Oakwood Centre splits town over value

Two independently conducted surveys carried out in Woodley have returned contrasting results about the popularity of the Oakwood Centre

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Two independently conducted surveys carried out in Woodley have returned contrasting results about the popularity of a community centre.

Townspeople appear to be split over the Oakwood Centre in Headley Road after the studies produced almost identical percentages who were in support and sceptical about the facility.

The first survey, conducted by Woodley Town Council, discovered 48.2 per cent of its 428 respondents used the centre.

However, a survey carried out by Councillor Keith Baker in his Conservative-controlled ward of Coronation found 44.1 per cent of people surveyed had never used the facility. A further 47.2 per cent only use it occasionally.

And 65 per cent of Coronation people felt the centre provides poor value for money.

In the Coronation poll, 160 of 2,000 residents responded, which also asked for feedback and comments on ways to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and priorities for local transport.

Results from the town council survey, which targeted 500 homes around Woodley and received 428 responses, discovered authority-owned facilities are popular.

The study, carried out in March, asked respondents to rate town council facilities – 14.3 per cent were deemed excellent and 48.4 per cent considered they were good.

Out of those questioned, 95.3 per cent had heard of the town council, and 21.9 per cent were ‘very satisfied’ to be living in the town.

Youngsters polled about improving youth facilities at Woodford Park suggested attractions like a climbing wall, picnic and barbecue area and a panic button to the police should trouble flare up.

Cllr Beth Rowland, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Woodley, said: “The Oakwood Centre is very interesting because it continues to go up year on year and its usage is certainly holding its own in a time of recession. The leisure centres continue to be supported by residents but unfortunately the Free Swimming programme is coming to an end so we are hoping that won’t have any effect, but we will be looking to try and make up for losing that.

“I’m quite happy with it [the survey] because it gives us a good idea what people think about the services we are providing.”

Cllr Baker, however, believes his survey tells a rather different story.

While he agrees there is a slight improvement in usage at the Oakwood Centre – which he puts down to people calling in to use the toilets – he claims a 428 household response represents less than two per cent of the population.

He said: “We had 6.8 per cent who said they use it regularly, 47.2 who use it occasionally and 44.1 per cent who never use it – while one person was unaware of the facility.

“In 2007, 36 per cent had used the facility and in 2009 that had risen to 41 per cent. In 2007 the Oakwood Centre was rated as excellent by 59 per cent and in 2009 that had dropped down to 47 per cent. So it looks like a very slow increase in usage but the perceived quality has dropped quite a lot.”